Back catalogue: Funk

Review: Jet-set instrumental funk from Lance Ferguson, sifted from his rare early release 'Rare Groove Spectrum Vol. 1'. The pieces are technically covers; the A, of Earth, Wind & Fire's 'Brazilian Rhyme', and the B of 'Sweet Power Your Embrace' by James Mason. This Japanese 7" edition contains no end of wally funk, baggy brass trills and bossa nova clave, musically emanating straight from the heart of Melbourne, Australia.

Review: Disco-fied Britfunk rarity alert! Originally recorded and released in limited numbers way back in 1983, TJ Johnson Band's sole single, 'I Can Make It (Good For You)' has long been an in-demand item amongst record collectors. Hopefully this reissue on Freestyle Records will not only get the record into the hands of more DJs, but also lead to a wider celebration of the song's quality. It's genuinely brilliant - an addictive, infectious workout rich in squelchy P-funk synth-bass, rubbery slap bass, razor-sharp guitar licks, part-sung, part-spoken vocals and tidy beats. Original flip-side 'Dragonfly' is a confirmed banger, too - an elastic jazz-funk club workout smothered in gorgeous jazz guitar solos. In a word: essential!

Review: Yet another 12" rarity from the annals of UK funk & boogie history - this time the 1985 cut 'Sexy Lady' from VeiraKrew. Carribean-born and British-raised pianist Elvis Veira moved to England alongside his pianist and music teacher mother at the age of two, quickly becoming proficient on piano, guitar and bass by his early teens. His love for playing music and singing in choirs propelled him on this musical journey, and his late teens to 20s saw him supporting acts such Heatwave, Wham, Katrina and the Waves and more. In 1983 he started working under the alias VeiraKrew, and a couple of years later in 1985 laid down this 12", backed up with the title track's killer instrumental version and the B-side 'Welcome to a Dream'. It was self-released by Veira, quickly becoming a collector's item with clean copies changing hands for up to 150 a piece. The instrumentals are fresh and filled with life, and 'Welcome to a Dream' is an incredible mid-tempo bopper. Well worthy of a repress, and is sure to be in demand - so don't delay!

Review: Aussie funkateer Lance Ferguson - the man behind a multitude of killer bands and solo projects - impressed with 2019 album Rare Groove Spectrum, an all-live set of "DJ friendly re-imaginings" (that's instrumental covers to you and me). This sequel follows a similar blueprint, with Ferguson and his assembled musical comrades delivering fiery, ear-catching and floor friendly interpretations of everything from the Sunburst Band's 2004 jazz-funk club classic 'Far Beyond' and Marcos Valle's Brazilian disco gem 'Estrelar', to Kool & The Gang's luscious 'Summer Madness' (here presented with some superb synth solos) and Carly Simon's reggae-infused Balearic disco anthem 'Why'. Throw in a bunch of jazz-dance and Latin-jazz covers and you have another essential album.